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{{culture
|image=Havah4.jpg
|related=Vorinism
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
'''Safehand''' is a [[Roshar]]an term for a woman's left hand. According to cultural tradition in the [[Vorin]] kingdoms, it is improper for a woman to leave her safehand uncovered.{{wob ref|12977}} A woman's right hand is often referred to as their '''freehand'''.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
==Background and Observance==
{{image|Vorin Havah.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Examples of havahs from a fashion folio, showing different types of safehand sleeves}}
The tradition of covering one's safehand is primarily practiced by women in the Vorin nations of [[Alethkar]], [[Jah Keved]], [[Kharbranth]], [[New Natanan]], and [[Thaylenah]]. Girls begin covering their left hand at around twelve years of age, and it is seen as a rite of passage.{{book ref|sa2|19}} It is kept hidden from view whenever possible, even when wearing a robe in front of bathing attendants before actually entering the bath.{{book ref|sa1|48}} Only family members are touched with a covered safehand,{{book ref|sa1|22}} as it is considered to be a fairly intimate gesture.{{book ref|sa3|18}}{{book ref|sa4|43}} Intentionally showing your safehand is considered an exceptionally private act, usually reserved only for a woman's significant other.{{book ref|sa3|36}}
==Notes==▼
Covering the left hand is not thought of as a major inconvenience among Alethi and Veden nobility, since [[lighteyes|lighteyed]] women are able to pursue one-handed hobbies such as painting and writing.{{wob ref|4447}} Among the upper class, the most common method of covering the safehand is by wearing a [[havah]], a traditional dress that includes an oversized sleeve that loosely covers the left hand.{{book ref|sa1|3}} The fabric used to make havahs is thin enough that the safehand can still be used to grip things.{{book ref|sa4|69}} The sleeve often has a compartment or button where a "safepouch" that holds personal objects can be placed. The pouch may hold objects as large as a notebook, and can usually be transferred between different garments.{{book ref|sa4|8}}{{book ref|sa1|48}} It is considered extremely rude to open another woman's safepouch.{{book ref|sa1|39}} The sleeve typically has a button that can be opened if a woman is in a situation where she can reveal her safehand.{{book ref|sa4|19}} Havahs are particularly popular in Alethkar and Jah Keved, and new styles are often introduced in Roshar's fashion capitals of [[Liafor]] and [[Yezier]].{{file ref|Vorin Havah.jpg|Vorin Havah Folio Page}}{{book ref|sa3|49}} People from non-Vorin nations who associate with Alethi nobility (such as [[Evi]] and [[Palona]]) are expected to cover their safehands, although they may be relatively careless about keeping it totally hidden.{{book ref|sa3|36}}{{book ref|sa3|21}}
{{Stormlight}}[[Category:Culture]]▼
[[darkeyes|Darkeyed]] women often choose to wear a glove instead of a sleeve; they are not concerned about putting on airs and are more likely to need both hands to perform their jobs or household duties.{{book ref|sa1|3}}{{book ref|sa1|6}} [[Thaylen]] women, who are less devout than the Alethi and come from a society of sailors, also typically wear gloves.{{book ref|sa1|8}}{{book ref|sa1|i|4}} Gloves are considered less modest than sleeves.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
Prostitutes may wear fingerless gloves or leave their safehands completely uncovered in order to be provocative and show others who they are before being hired out.{{book ref|sa2|45}}{{book ref|sa1|46}}
==History==
Although ''Arts and Majesty'' was written prior to the [[Recreance]], it came to prominence after that event when it was adopted as a misogynistic justification for men to bear [[Shardblade]]s and [[Shardplate]] instead of women. This had far-reaching effects in Vorin society, including women appropriating the duties of reading and writing as a form of retaliation.{{wob ref|6245}} This change occurred relatively rapidly, over the course of a few decades,{{wob ref|900}} and persisted for several millenia.{{wob ref|9655}}
[[Singer]]s that served Vorin masters in [[slaveform]] prior to the [[Everstorm]] sometimes retained the tradition of covering their safehands after they were freed.{{book ref|sa4|1}}
During the [[True Desolation]], the importance of safehands seemed to decline among some high-ranking Vorin women. [[Jasnah Kholin]] followed the tradition because it was seen as proper, although she did not actually care about it herself.{{book ref|sa4|17}} [[Navani]] began wearing a glove more often and felt that wearing a sleeve was burdensome.{{book ref|sa4|19}}
== Trivia ==
* According to [[Ben McSweeney]], it was not originally intended for safehands to become a sexual and nudity taboo. After the release of ''[[The Way of Kings]]'', however, fans made the connection themselves and Brandon worked it into the world as a result.{{wob ref|14095}}
▲== Notes ==
<references />
{{complete|[[User:Big Smooth|Big Smooth]] ([[User talk:Big Smooth|talk]]) 20:28, 26 June 2022 (UTC)}}
[[Category: Vorinism]]
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